Couch-bed.



W. P. HAMMOND.

COUCH BED.

APPLICATION FILED Nov.11. 190s.

Patented Jan. 3, 1911.

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o UU nes W. P. HAMMOND` GOUCH BED.

APPLIOATION FILED Nov.11, 1908.

Patented Jan. 3, 1911.

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SATES PATE'T 1 OFFllCE.

"WILLIAM PARKER HAMMOND, OF ROCKLAND, IvIASSiAGHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR T0 TBI- UMPI-I COUCI-I-IBED CO., OF ROGKLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, A. CORPORATION OF MAS- SACHUSETTS.

COUCI-LBED.

Specieation of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 3, 1.9211.

Application filed November 11, 11908. Serial No. 462,109.

outh and Commonwealth of Massachusetts,

have invented certain new and useful lmprovements in Couch-Eeds, of which theA following is a speciication.

This invention relates to that type of couch beds wherein two semi-bed frames and mattresses are adapted to be changed at will into either a full width bed or a couch, by swinging one of the frames or sections up and forward from the other; and it has for its object the effecting of the improvements in details of construction hereinafter set forth.

Referring to the drawings forming part ci this specification, Figure l is a perspectiveview or" one end of a couch bed made in accordance with my invention, the same being shown as a full width bed. Fig. 2 is a similar perspective view', but showing the couch bed in its couch form. Fig. fi is a vertical longitudinal. section of amportion of the bed showing the means forrbracing one part of the mattress supporting springs. Fig. 4 is a detail view of one of the arms forming onev of the members of said bracing means. Fig. 5 is a detail view partly in section illustrating my method of uniting the legs and longitudinal bars of the bed. Fig. G is a sectional view on a plane at right angles to that of Fig. Fig. 7 is a sectional View showing my manner of attaching the equalizing springs to the trame. Fig. S is a plan view of one ot the engaging hooks for securing the spring-sections together. Fig. S) is a side view of the same.

The couch bed composing the subject matter of this application is'in two sections, one of which is adapted to be superposed upon the other for forming the couch; and for being lifted up and to one side of the other to constitute the bed. To this end, two linksl or arms are pivoted to each end of the structure for the purpose of maintaining a parallel motion of the movable section, and equalizing springs are provided for resiliently supporting the last named section and reducing the exertion required :tor such As the ends of this couch bed are duplicates of each other, I do not show both,

but illustrate one end only of the two sec-r tions. .The end of the stationary section .1

consists of the approximately semicircular.

length of tubing 2, the extremities of which rest upon and are fixed to the angleiron base 3, which in turn is carried by suitable casters 4. To the inner face of the arch or tubing 2, near its upper part, is iixed the angle iron 5 with its horizontal web' above instead of below as in the case of the angle iron This angle iron has its horizontal web apertured for theengagement of the mattress springs in the usual manner. The two arches Q are rigidly secured together by the two longitudinal tube-bars flnraces,

and the rock-shaft 8 passing transversely through the mid-lengths of the angle iron bases 3.

The movable bed section 1 0 has each end l' comprise a length of tubing bent to form a leg ll, a horizontal part l2, and a rudimentary leg i3. Such legs are joined by the bar lst and the angle iron 15 riveted or bolti ed to opposite faces, and with vnuts or washers 16 holding such bar and angle iron lfarther apart and out of contact with said legs. By thus separating said bar and angle iron, ample space is allowed for the reception of the arch 2 when the movable section 10 is superposed upon the stationary section, as shown in Fig. 2.

The leg 11 of each end frame is rigidly connected with the other by the tube 17 and braces 18; but the rudimentary leg 13 cannot be thus braced because of interference with the parts oi the stationary section 1.

To properly brace it against the pull ofI the mattress springs, the arm 2O is pivoted thereto, shown in Figs. l and 2; the lower end ot such arm being tast upon the extremof the rock-shaft 8. Extending midway of the two arms 2O is the bar 2l, also preterably tubular as are the other longitudinal bars; as shown in Figs; 3 and 6. The lower ends of said arms being tied together by the said rock shaft, and braced against pulling together, by the bar 21, the strain of the mattress springs upon the ends of the angle irons 15 attached to the rudimentary legs 13, is strongly resisted. At the same time, such legs 13 can be swung over the arch 2 upon the rock shaft a center, with per-l feet freedom; the arms 22 pivoted to the most no force to move it at any part of itsmidlengths of the bars 14 and the ends of i in Figs. l, 2 and 4, each said arm the bases 3 serving to preserve the parallelism of the movable bed section-while being thus swung oven upon, or away from, the

stationary section.

The equalizing springs A for resiliently supporting the movable bed section have their upper ends attached to the arches 2, and their lower ends to the brace bar 21.

T he points of attachment to the arches being .directly over the rock-shaft 8, said springs I are made to exert their maximum lifting sov vsite side of said force upon the movable bed section when the latter is in the two extremes of its movement,while in mid-movement,with the arms vertical and the movable section at its highest point of rise, said springs will be exertingtheir minimum etfect. the movable bed section is resiliently supported in'such a manner as to require altravel. 'Neither does it fall ateither extreme of its movement, but will remain poised at any altitude.

As illustrated in Fig. 1, when the movable bed 4section is drawn forward. the leg 11 is supported by the Hoor, and the opposection has its angle irons 15 terminally rest upon the ends of the angle irons 5.of the stationary bed section; for such purpose and also to enable the bed sections to close more snuglyy together, the angle irons 15 have their vertical flanges ascend, while those of the scend. This alsoV permits the mattress springs 27 to lie in substantially the same lne, both when used as a couch and e Hooks 28 are secured the 'movable mattress springs', as shown in 1, in such a manner that as said springs swingdown into place, said springs engage the ed e of the stationary springs and so cause t e said two sections of springs .to act as a single large one. As shown in Figs. 8 and 9, 4each said hook is formed from strap metal, with a shank 29 long enough to span ftwo strands of the mattress springs, and to be attached thereto by means oi" the holes 30 having the wires in said two strands hooked into such holes. The hook part 28 itself is bent in at an oblique angle, substantially straight for a short distance, and then curved Voutward slightly. I find that this slight outward curve aids the hooks in engagingthe wires o f the stationary mattressv springs, while the oblique bend is ample to insure that the adjacent edges of the mattress `springs shall remain in engagement while in use, and will at the same time be sure to be 1 released when the upward and rearward lift is given tothe movable bed section.-

lAnother improvement in detail is the specific construction of the arms 20. As shown Consequently,`

angle irons 5 def asa4 to the inner edge of 4 is preferably'formed from strap metal, bent at midlength to providev an eye 32 for the pivot ,pin or bolt 33, and its ends are curved to form a socket for clasping the rock shaft 8. At mid-length of each said arm is a narrow block inserted between the two members ot' the ai'in and suitably fixed therein, as by a rivet; such block beinfr a part of -a plug fixed in the end of the tu ular rock shaft'. This construction provides an arm both light and strong, and, in eiiect, a truss; the main strain which is to be met thereby being parallel with the rock-shaft. A\nother and most important improvement is my method of attaching the longitudinal tubes to the arch 2 and leg 1,1. Previous to my invention, it has been the universal cus tom to flatten they ends of said tubes and rivet such tiattened. ends to the tace of the upright members. Instead of that, I punch a semicircular notch, of somewhat more than a seniicircle, in each end of the tube, in order Vto clasp thc saine partially about the upright, and then pass the rivet or bolt through the same, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6. In said figures, the tubeG is illustrated as thus fixed to the upright 2 by such concave ends 36 and rivet 3T. Inasmuch as the upper and under parts of the said tube butt against the surface of the upright both above and below the level of the rivet 3T, the joint thus formed is adapted to resist tiexure to the full strength of vthe metal, and consequently braces the frame of the bed in a powerful manner. Instead of attaching the spring 25 to the arch 2 by an eye riveted or otherwise `fas tened thereto, Yl prefer to forni thejwo small holes 39 at the proper point through the under periphery of the tube composing such arch, as indicated by Fig. 7. These holes readily receive the hook 40 of said spring,

and retain it with perfect security, while still permitting the oscillation ot' the sprinrir as thc movable bed section is swung bac or forward. y

As indicated in the drawings, the springs which I prefer to employ for each section are' of the well-known National\`type,

which consists of wire links joined to each other in longitudinal and transverse rows, with the tension springs hooked intojengav'ement-with the longitudinaliowsjand'a so with the angle irons 5 and l15-'ot' the end frames.

lVhat I claim as my invention'and for which I desire Letters Patent is asfollows,

to wit l. A combined bed and couch comprising ay stationary sectioin and ay movablel section, the movable section being adapted o be. swung up and foiwvardfroni the stationary section, a longiti'ulinal shaft carried by the stat ionary section,

arms rising from the ends .eye for said pivot, and having itsextremities bent to clasp said shaft; a plug being` secured between the doubled parts of said arm and composing the fastening means for fixingr an end of said bar thereto.

2. A combined bed and Couch Comprising a stationary section and a vmovable section, parallel arms at each end of the same pivoted to both sections, and a tension spring at each end attached at its lower end to an intermediate point of one of said arms and at its upper end to a part of the stationary section vertically above the lower pivot of the last-named arm, said part ot the stationary sectioirbeing tubular and having two small closely disposed holes in the same transverse plane, and the end of the spring thereat beingA formed with a hook passing through said holes.

3. A combi ed bed and couch comprising a stationary section and a movablesec'tion,

the stationary section having end frames the main part of each of which 1s a tubular bar bent into a substantially semicircular form, the movable section havin-g end frames the m'ain part of each of Which is a tubular bar bent to constitute a vertical leg, a horizontal section and a rudimentary leg, .the

two end yframes at each end of the couchbetl being 1n the same vert1ea1 plane, the

movable section bemg adapted-to be swung up and forward from the stationary section andsaid rudimentarylegs to move along but ont of contact with the perlphery of the` semieircnlar frame-bars.

In testimony that I 4claim thefforeg'oing" invention, I have hereunto set my hand this 3rd (lay of November 1908. i

' n WILLIAM PARKER HAMMOND. Witnesses:

CLARENCE H. YOUNG, Gines lV. HowLAND. 

